From Onboarding to Empowerment: How Milwaukee Electronics invested in its workforce—and its future

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In the competitive, fast-paced world of electronics manufacturing, success is often measured in units shipped, defects avoided, and deadlines met. But for Milwaukee Electronics, a company with more than 70 years of history and operations across the U.S., Mexico, and Asia, true success is defined by something deeper: the people who make it all possible.

Founded in 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Milwaukee Electronics began by integrating electronics into heavy mining equipment. Over the decades, it has evolved into a full-service electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, offering custom electronics design, printed circuit board (PCB) assembly, and project management. With offices in Oregon, Wisconsin, Mexico, Singapore, and India—and a pioneering e-commerce prototype division called Screaming Circuits—the company exemplifies innovation.

Still, even for a forward-thinking company, one persistent challenge loomed: developing a skilled, confident, and reliable production workforce, particularly in an industry where many new hires arrive with little to no experience in electronics.

“Like many in EMS, we face challenges with recruitment and retention,” says Michele Winchcomb, Milwaukee’s corporate training and development manager. “Many candidates join us without prior industry experience. While some bring transferable skills, others are learning entirely new concepts, making the steep learning curve a hurdle for talent retention.”

Recognizing that they couldn’t afford to rely solely on prior experience or on-the-job trial and error, Milwaukee Electronics looked to the Global Electronics Association (formerly known as IPC), not just as a standards provider but also as a workforce training partner.

Continue reading this article in the Summer 2025 issue of Community Magazine, a joint publication of the Global Electronics Industry and I-Connect007.